ai4bharat/Pralekha huggingface dataset:
Ministry of Women and Child Development
NCW organizes Final Law Review Consultation on Maternity Benefit Act, 1961
The National Commission for Women organized the final Law Review Consultation on the Maternity Benefit Act, 1961 and the 2017 Amendment to review and analyse the legislation affecting women and recommend amendments to meet any lacunae, inadequacies and shortcomings.
In pursuance of the Commission's mandate to review legal and constitutional safeguards pertaining to women, NCW has conducted one preliminary consultation and five Regional Level Consultations to relook the Act in order to formulate specific recommendations for amendments and enhancing the outreach of the legislation.
Through this Consultation, the Commission endeavoured to seek views, suggestions and opinions of experts and stakeholders from all over India.
The Commission invited legal experts, advocates, academicians and legal experts from different fields to deliberate upon the real challenges and technical issues faced by women.
Some of the important suggestions made by the panelists were to extend the paternity leaves so that the burden of raising the child is shared equally between both the parents, incentivizing employers, and sensitization of the corporate sector for employing more women workers.
The experts also discussed the issue of women working in the unorganized sector, provision of crèche facility on a case to case basis rather than number of employees, scope of incentives for employers, etc.
Prime Minister's Office
Swachh Shakti 2019: Rural women Champions for Swachh Bharat
PM to launch Swachh Shakti 2019 from Kurukshetra tomorrow
Women Sarpanches from all over the country to be felicitated
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi will visit Kurukshetra in Haryana on February 12, 2019. He will participate in Swachh Shakti 2019, a convention of Women Sarpanches and distribute the Swachh Shakti-2019 awards. PM will visit the Swachh Sundar Shauchalay exhibition at Kurukshetra and address a public gathering. PM will also inaugurate/ lay foundation stone for various development projects in Haryana.
Swachh Shakti-2019 is a national event which aims to bring in to focus the leadership role played by rural women in Swachh Bharat Mission. Women Sarpanches and Panches from all over the country will be attending the event. Around 15,000 women are expected to participate in this year’s Swachh Shakti event aimed at empowering the women.
The Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation in association with the Govt. of Haryana is organizing the Swachh Shakti-2019. Best practices from grass root level in the rural areas for Swachh Bharat will be shared by them. The event will showcase the achievements of Swachh Bharat and the recently conducted Swachh Sunder Shauchalay,  - a unique and first of its kind in the world campaign.
Background:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Swachh Shakti program first in 2017 at Gandhinagar, Gujarat. 6000 women sarpanches from across the country had assembled in Gujarat on the occasion of International Women’s Day under the banner of Swachh Shakti 2017. PM addressed and honoured them.
The second Swachh Shakti event, Swachh Shakti-2018 was held at Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh. 8000 women sarpanches, 3000 women Swachhagrahis and women champions from other walks of life from across the country were recognized for their outstanding contribution towards making a Swachh Bharat during the event.
Now the third edition is being inaugurated from Kurukshetra.
Swachh Shakti is an example of how at the grass root level, rural women champions are acting as a change agent to mobilize the community and lead from the front women taking initiatives for a Swachh Bharat. The movement is a part of ongoing activities under the aegis of the Swachh Bharat Mission, launched on October 2nd, 2014, by the Prime MinisterNarendra Modiaimed at achieving a Clean and Open Defecation Free  India by 2nd October, 2019.
Ministry of Defence
JOINT INDIA SINGAPORE EXERCISE ‘BOLD KURUKSHETRA’ CONCLUDES AT JODHPUR
The Singapore Army and Indian Army participated in the 13th edition of Exercise Bold Kurukshetra, a bilateral armour exercise from 06-13 March 2023 at Jodhpur Military Station, India.
For the first time in the exercise series, both armies participated in a command post Exercise, which involved Battalion and Brigade level planning elements and computer wargaming. Hosted by the Indian Army, the exercise involved soldiers from the 42nd Battalion, Singapore Armoured Regiment and an Armoured Brigade of Indian Army.
The ten-day long joint training that commenced on 05th March fostered common understanding of mechanised warfare in emerging threats and evolving technologies, developing inter-operability through a computer simulation-based Wargame using joint operational and tactical procedures controlled through a joint command post. Both contingents not only learnt about each other’s operating drills and procedure, but also exchanged ideas and best practices being followed in a modern combat zone.
Exercise Bold Kurukshetra is conducted under the ambit of the bilateral arrangement for the joint Army Training and exercises between the Singapore Army and the Indian Army. First conducted in 2005, this exercise underscores the strong and long-standing bilateral defence relationship between both countries and enhances cooperation between the two armies. Both defence establishments also interact regularly through high-level visits, policy dialogues, courses and other professional exchanges.
Prime Minister's Office
PM thanks world leaders for their greetings on India’s 74th Republic Day
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has thanked world leaders for their greetings on India’s 74th Republic Day.
In response to a tweet by the Prime Minister of Australia, the Prime Minister said;
"Thank you Prime Minister @AlboMP. Greetings to you and to the friendly people of Australia on Australia Day."
In response to a tweet by the Prime Minister of Nepal, the Prime Minister said;
"Thank You @cmprachanda ji for your warm wishes!"
In response to a tweet by the Prime Minister of Bhutan, the Prime Minister said;
"Thank you @PMBhutan Dr. Lotay Tshering for your warm wishes! India is committed to its unique partnership with Bhutan for progress and prosperity of both our nations."
In response to a tweet by the President of Maldives, the Prime Minister said;
"Thank you for your warm greetings, President @ibusolih. Glad to see the sustained progress achieved by India-Maldives partnership, underpinned by common democratic values."
In response to a tweet by the Prime Minister of Israel, the Prime Minister said;
"Thank you for your warm wishes for India's Republic Day, PM @netanyahu. Look forward to further strengthening our strategic partnership."
In response to a tweet by the President of France, the Prime Minister said;
"Grateful for your warm greetings my dear friend @EmmanuelMacron on India’s Republic Day. I share your commitment to work together for success of India’s G20 Presidency & 25th anniversary of India-France Strategic Partnership. India and France together are a force for global good."
In response to a tweet by the Prime Minister of Mauritius, the Prime Minister said;
"Thank you, PM @KumarJugnauth. In our shared journey as modern Republics, our two countries have been partnering closely in people-centred development.
Looking forward to taking our cherished partnership with Mauritius to even greater heights."
Ministry of Electronics & IT
Shri Rajesh Gera joins as Director General, National Informatics Centre 
Shri Rajesh Gera has joined as the Director General, National Informatics Centre , Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology  on 31st May 2022.
In his association of more than 31 years with NIC, Shri Rajesh Gera headed several prominent divisions - Video Conferencing Division, Satellite Network Division, Aadhaar Authentication Division, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Ayush, Ministry of Corporate Affairs, NITI Aayog, PMO, Cabinet Secretariat, President Secretariat, Labour and Employment Informatics Division, and National Database of Unorganized Workers  Project.
He was on deputation in the Ministry of Defence as CEO, DPIT from 11.08.2018 to 31.08.2020. He joined back NIC as Deputy Director General  on 01.09.2020.
Shri Rajesh Gera completed his B.Tech  with Honors in 1984 from IIT Varanasi, Banaras Hindu University.
Ministry of Defence
CONTRACT SIGNING WITH M/S SECON, VISAKHAPATNAM FOR ACQUISITION OF EIGHT MISSILE CUM AMMUNITION BARGE FOR INDIAN NAVY
A contract for construction of Eight Missile Cum Ammunition Barges  has been concluded with M/s SECON, Visakhapatnam a MSME on 19 February 2021. Delivery of Barges is scheduled to commence from Jul 22. The Missile Cum Ammunition Barges will be inducted in Indian Navy to undertake the mission needs for embarking/ disembarking Missile, Gunnery and ASW Ammunition. The project adds another milestone to the Make in Indiainitiative of the Government of India.
Ministry of Electronics & IT
Latest technology and Good governance has resulted in revolutionary change in the Country – MoS Chandrashekhar
Minister interacted with the beneficiaries of Ayushyaman Bharat Yojana in Pune
Pune – 12 June 2022
Union Minister of State for Information Technology, Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Mr. Rajiv Chandrasekhar, today said that a new revolution of change is taking place in the country with the help of latest technology and good governance in the last eight years of the Union Government under the leadership of Prime Minister Naredra Modi Speaking to reporters in Pune he said in order to curb the rising cyber crime the old information technology law will be amended accordingly and a stringent law will be introduced.
He further said that the Modi government is working on the three pillars of service, good governance and welfare of the poor and due to this plenty of opportunities is available for young generation in the country. The government have introduced many schemes with the help of latest technology, so that the beneficiary is getting the monetary benefits directly to their bank accounts.
Mr. Chandrasekhar said digital skills have been introduced in the post-Corona period and digital skills courses will be started from school level to make the youth of the country digitally proficient. The Modi government will give top priority to creating digitally skilled youth in the country who are capable of tackling global challenges competently, he added.
Earlier Mr. Chandrasekhar interacted with the youth of various disciplines of Modern College. He also visited Shewale Hospital in Pune and interacted with the beneficiary patients of Ayushyaman Bharat Yojana.
Ministry of Science & Technology
Sea water desalination through solar thermal forward osmosis brings relief to drought prone Tamil Nadu village
Narippaiyur, a village in Ramanathapuram District, a drought prone area situated in the South-East corner of Tamil Nadu will benefit from 20,000 litres per day of fresh water produced from sea water – thanks to the solar thermal Forward Osmosis  sea water desalination system installed in the place.
The customized demand driven convergent water solution through FO will supply two litres of good quality drinking water per person per day for 10,000 people in the village, successfully overcoming a major drinking water shortage in the village. The FO system facilitates high recovery, low energy consumption, potential for resource recovery, especially in solutions of high osmotic pressure, less fouling of the membrane because of low pressure operation, easier and more effective cleaning of the membrane, longer membrane life and lower operating costs.
Tamil Nadu IIT Madras in collaboration with Empereal – KGDS Renewable Energy have successfully established and demonstrated this system to address prevalent and emerging water challenges in Mission Mode in the village.
Ramanathapuram District, situated in the South-East corner of Tamil Nadu, is severely affected by scarcity of potable water due to salinity, brackishness and also poor sources of ground water. The district of 423000 hectares has a long coastal line measuring about 265 kilometres accounting for nearly 1/4th of the total length of the coastal line of the state.
The Water Technology Initiative, Department of Science & Technology  has supported this field based effort in the district through the consortium members led by Indian Institute of Technology Madras , KGiSL Institute of Technology , Empereal– KGDS Renewable Energy  and ICT Mumbai.
Forward Osmosis system installed at Narippaiyur Village, Ramanathapuram District, Tamil Nadu
LFR based Solar Thermal System Solar hot water system installed at Narippaiyur Village, Ramanathapuram District, Tamil Nadu
The sea water FO technology operates at near 2 bar pressure unlike sea water RO that operates at 50 bar pressure. It is versatile, has high energy efficiency and low operation and maintenance costs compared to other technologies.
The produced water will be supplied to the local people with the support of villagers and panchayat. This initiative of DST can pave way for scaling up the emerging technology in various coastal rural areas of the country to address drinking water shortage.
(Visitor Counter : 1007
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
COVID-19 Vaccination Update- Day 161
India’s COVID-19 Vaccination Coverage crosses the landmark of 31 Cr
On the Fifth Day of new phase of COVID-19 Vaccination, more than 54.48 lakh Vaccine Doses administered today till 7 pm
More than 8.04 Cr Vaccine doses administered in the age group 18-44, so far
In another significant achievement, India’s cumulative COVID Vaccination Coverage crossed 31 crore , as per the 7 pm provisional report today. As the new phase of universalization of COVID-19 vaccination commenced from 21st June, more than 54.48 lakh  Vaccine Doses administered today, as per the 7 pm provisional report.
35,90,555 vaccine doses were administered as first dose and 77,664 vaccine doses given as second dose in the age group 18-44 years today. Cumulatively, 7,87,22,572 persons across 37 States/UTs have received their first dose and total 17,09,970 have received their second dose since the start of Phase-3 of the vaccination drive. Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Gujarat, Haryana, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal have administered more than 10 lakh beneficiaries of the age group 18-44 years for the first dose of COVID vaccine.
The table below shows the cumulative vaccine doses administered to 18-44 years age group till now.
|
|
S.No.
|
|
State
|
|
1st Dose
|
|
2nd Dose
|
|
1
|
|
A & N Islands
|
|
35692
|
|
5
|
|
2
|
|
Andhra Pradesh
|
|
1440610
|
|
10210
|
|
3
|
|
Arunachal Pradesh
|
|
180277
|
|
7
|
|
4
|
|
Assam
|
|
2125341
|
|
127046
|
|
5
|
|
Bihar
|
|
4977483
|
|
78094
|
|
6
|
|
Chandigarh
|
|
161148
|
|
125
|
|
7
|
|
Chhattisgarh
|
|
1720322
|
|
54807
|
|
8
|
|
Dadra & Nagar Haveli
|
|
106127
|
|
9
|
|
9
|
|
Daman & Diu
|
|
118286
|
|
95
|
|
10
|
|
Delhi
|
|
2039848
|
|
154624
|
|
11
|
|
Goa
|
|
272661
|
|
4180
|
|
12
|
|
Gujarat
|
|
6473232
|
|
168963
|
|
13
|
|
Haryana
|
|
2755399
|
|
69419
|
|
14
|
|
Himachal Pradesh
|
|
741235
|
|
164
|
|
15
|
|
Jammu & Kashmir
|
|
714891
|
|
29839
|
|
16
|
|
Jharkhand
|
|
1844743
|
|
58890
|
|
17
|
|
Karnataka
|
|
5560150
|
|
57651
|
|
18
|
|
Kerala
|
|
1686605
|
|
9931
|
|
19
|
|
Ladakh
|
|
72410
|
|
1
|
|
20
|
|
Lakshadweep
|
|
21859
|
|
11
|
|
21
|
|
Madhya Pradesh
|
|
7642902
|
|
135818
|
|
22
|
|
Maharashtra
|
|
4927387
|
|
257216
|
|
23
|
|
Manipur
|
|
131944
|
|
46
|
|
24
|
|
Meghalaya
|
|
199432
|
|
16
|
|
25
|
|
Mizoram
|
|
227083
|
|
12
|
|
26
|
|
Nagaland
|
|
179891
|
|
22
|
|
27
|
|
Odisha
|
|
2493284
|
|
135906
|
|
28
|
|
Puducherry
|
|
159133
|
|
97
|
|
29
|
|
Punjab
|
|
1262152
|
|
10211
|
|
30
|
|
Rajasthan
|
|
6495291
|
|
19896
|
|
31
|
|
Sikkim
|
|
187349
|
|
0
|
|
32
|
|
Tamil Nadu
|
|
4558283
|
|
53920
|
|
33
|
|
Telangana
|
|
3254992
|
|
24248
|
|
34
|
|
Tripura
|
|
734828
|
|
11793
|
|
35
|
|
Uttar Pradesh
|
|
8324340
|
|
170749
|
|
36
|
|
Uttarakhand
|
|
1153695
|
|
34301
|
|
37
|
|
West Bengal
|
|
3742267
|
|
31648
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
7,87,22,572
|
|
17,09,970
Ministry of Jal Shakti
States meet to strategize the way forward for Swachh Bharat
National workshop on ODF Plus held with 12 States in New Delhi
With all 5.99 lakh villages, 699 districts and 35 states and union territories having declared themselves open defecation free  under the Swachh Bharat Mission  [SBM] as of October 2019, the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation , Ministry of Jal Shakti organised a one-day national workshop on ODF Plus – ODF Sustainability and Solid and Liquid Waste Management, today in New Delhi. Secretaries in-charge of rural sanitation, Mission Directors and other key state level officials from 12 states attended the workshop.
Opening the workshop, Shri Parameswaran Iyer, Secretary , Ministry of Jal Shakti, shared that although tremendous progress had been made under the SBM, since the programme’s inception in 2014, the work is not yet over, and it is key that all stakeholders continue their efforts to sustain safe sanitation and to ensure that no one is left behind. States were encouraged to take stock of their rural sanitation situation and lay focus on sustaining the gains made under the SBM and ensuring general cleanliness in the villages with solid and liquid waste management .
The Secretary also held bilateral meetings between the senior most officials representing the states along with officials from the Ministry, to discuss challenges and strategies on a state-by-state basis.
ODF Plus, SBM’s latest component, consists of two main tracks: ODF Sustainability  and Solid and Liquid Waste Management . ODF-S includes sustaining behaviour change for safe sanitation, leaving no one behind and addressing gaps, ensuring community toilets for floating populations, and strengthening the capacity of all grassroots functionaries. As part of SLWM, the Mission is taking up biodegradable waste management, plastic waste management, grey water management, and fecal sludge management.
The workshop included presentation by the participating states on the their current status in rural sanitation and their plans going forward. Shri Arun Baroka, Additional Secretary , Ministry of Jal Shakti, in his presentation made the overall case for the Department’s vision moving forward and reiterated that focus has to be maintained on the sustainability of outcomes gained thus far and on solid and liquid waste management.
Ministry of Science & Technology
“National Biopharma Mission is supporting small and medium enterprises for biopharmaceutical product development, enhancing industry academia interlinkages and providing opportunities to translate knowledge into products/technologies for vaccines, biotherapeutics, devices and diagnostics.”-- Dr Harsh Vardhan
The National Biopharma Mission was approved by the Cabinet in 2017 with an aim to transform the health standards of the country through affordable product development and bring 5-7 biopharmaceutical products closer to market.
Objectives and goals of the Mission are:
a) Specific Product development under vaccines, biosimilars and medical devices
b) Building shared infrastructure for product testing, characterization and manufacturing
c) Promoting scientific research through establishment of translational research consortia and development of novel biopharmaceuticals and devices
d) skill development though trainings
e) creating and enhancing technology transfer and intellectual property management.
The Mission is supporting small and medium enterprises for biopharmaceutical product development, enhancing industry academia interlinkages and providing opportunities to translate knowledge into products/technologies for vaccines, biotherapeutics, devices and diagnostics. The indigenous manufacturing is promoted through the supported shared facilities for process optimization, clinical grade manufacturing of Biologics, Analytical testing labs, cell line repository, prototyping facilities, large animal testing facilities and medTech zone for manufacturing devices and diagnostics at large scale. These high capital facilities provide easy access to equipment and infrastructure thus encouraging indigenous manufacturing. Technology transfer offices have been established to support technology transfer and support entrepreneurship.
Financial and mentorship support has been provided to industry and academia for indigenous product development. This includes projects on development of components of upstream and downstream biologics manufacturing, such as engineered cell lines, media, resins and bioreactors which are currently in-licensed, requiring huge capital. To boost innovation, Mission is also supporting development of novel biologics, novel vaccines and medical devices like MRI, ventilators, diagnostic probes and Medical grade camera.
Five projects are being supported in Haryana, 3 projects in Faridabad district  and 2 in Gurgaon district .
This information was given in a written reply by the Minister of Science and Technology, Earth Sciences, and Health & Family Welfare, Dr Harsh Vardhan in Lok Sabha on September 23, 2020.
Ministry of Earth Sciences
Air quality over Delhi-NCT is likely to remain in Satisfactory to Moderate category today; the air quality is likely to deteriorate marginally but remain in Moderate category on 23rd & 24th June, 2021
According to the National Weather Forecasting Centre of the India Meteorological Department :
Wind Pattern and Ventilation Index Forecast
Air mass inflow forecast in Delhi along with predicted ventilation coefficient and weather forecast is as follows:
- The air quality over Delhi-NCT is likely to remain in Satisfactory to Moderate category on 22.06.2021. The air quality is likely to deteriorate marginally but remain in Moderate category on 23.06.2021 and 24.06.2021. PM10 will be the predominant pollutant owing to strong surface winds favourable for raising dust concentration locally and transport of dust from arid regions. The Outlook for subsequent 5 Days: The air quality is likely to remain largely in Satisfactory to Moderate category.
- The predominant surface wind is likely to be coming from Northwest/Southwest directions of Delhi with wind speed 10-15 kmph and partly cloudy sky on 22.06.2021. The predominant surface wind is likely to be coming from Northwest directions of Delhi with wind speed 12-20 kmph and partly cloudy sky on 23.06.2021.The predominant surface wind is likely to be coming from West- Northwest directions of Delhi with wind speed 24-28 kmph, partly cloudy sky and strong surface winds  during the day on 24.06.2021.
- Predicted maximum mixing depth is likely to be approx. 3800 m on 22.06.2021, 4400 m on 23.06.2021 and 4300 m on 24.06.2021 over Delhi. Maximum Ventilation index is likely to be approx 27000 m2/s on 22.06.2021, 29500 m2/s on 23.06.2021 and 39000 m2/s on 24.06.2021. The ventilation index lower than 6000 m2/s with average wind speed less than 10 kmph is unfavourable or dispersion of pollutants.
- Detailed forecast analysis and verification can be seen at https://ews.tropmet.res.in.

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